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The recent KK Mart controversy has reached a boiling point in the consciousness of the Malaysian public.
In Bidor, Perak, a man threw a petrol bomb at a KK Mart. Luckily, the petrol bomb did not ignite and nobody was seriously injured. Police are currently searching for the culprit.
The factory involved in the controversy over distributing socks bearing the word Allah has ceased operations, citing security concerns over its workers’ personal data and after allegedly receiving threats to burn down the premises.
Additionally, death threats have been issued, like the 68-year old man who allegedly made a death threat against Umno Youth chief Dr. Muhamad Akmal Saleh.
How did it all start?
The KK Mart controversy began when socks bearing the word Allah were found on the shelves of a KK Mart, prompting outrage from the Muslim community.
KK Mart’s founders apologised a few days later, but Dr. Akmal of the Umno Youth Party called for a boycott of the local chain. This has sparked a heated debate over whether the reaction to the insult against Islam is proportionate.
Many other public and political figures weighed in, some calling the move by Akmal as “exploiting the issue for political gain”, while others like Khairy Jamaluddin have told him to “stand down” on the issue.
How serious is the insult?
There are legal repercussions for insulting religion in Malaysia. For example, a technician from KL was arrested and given a 6-month jail time and a fine of RM12,000 after he made a viral Facebook post allegedly mocking the controversy. In another case in Sabah, a Muslim convert was fined RM15,000 for posting offensive remarks in the comments section of a Facebook post.
As a general rule, what is considered an insult varies across cultures, races, and religions. There are also degrees of insult, some of which are small and some of which are large.
Current news commentator Adrian Lim explained the gravity of the insult in a Facebook post:
“Non-Muslim don’t have to understand why Allah or Prophet Muhammad printed on socks is sensitive. You just have to accept it and respect it, as how the Muslims accept that Indian Hindus putting a red on their forehead, Chinese Taoists burning papers and Christians hanging a crucifix is not something to be insulted,” said Adrian in his post.
What is considered an appropriate level of apology?
For some, whether the insult is intentional matters, but for others, it’s the impact of the words that matter more. Some Malaysians were okay with KK Mart’s apology statement, while others may expect a more lasting gesture of remorse.
In the most serious cases where a company has made a huge public error, CEOs or people in positions of authority may even step down, legal action is taken, or businesses may be forced to close as their customers take their patronage elsewhere.
However, it’s worth noting that so far, none of our Malaysian politicians have called for a show of violence. Which is why the petrol bomb incident, as well as the death threats, are a shock to the nation.
What appeared to bystanders as a tiresome political wayang has turned ugly, with the potential for physical harm to come to innocent people. For his part, Dr. Akmal has condemned the violence, but remains unmoved in his stance on boycotting KK Mart.
Things have gotten so bad that our King himself stepped in
The recent escalation in tensions has prompted the highest authority in the land, the King of Malaysia, to step in and settle the matter once and for all.
“I have instructed that action be taken in accordance with the law, so there is no need for any party to continue fueling anger,” said Sultan Ibrahim, as posted on his official Facebook page today.
“The action taken is not solely to punish, but also serves as a lesson and reminder to all to uphold the sensitivities of Malaysians.”
“Persistent anger brings no benefit. All parties, especially community leaders must act with maturity.
“Let us guide the people towards unity, not division. This is an opportunity to gain a better understanding of each other in our diverse society so that such incidents do not recur,” Sultan Ibrahim added.
Voices like the King’s are a much-needed balm over the seething wounds of the Malaysian populace who are likely angered by the ongoing coverage of this news.
Hopefully, now that the highest authority in the country has settled the issue, we can move on from this incident and speak no more of it.
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Read also: KK Mart Boycotted Over Allah Socks Controversy, Here’s What M’sians Are Saying
KK Mart Boycotted Over Allah Socks Controversy, Here’s What M’sians Are Saying
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